Skallagrim was a good iron-smith, and in winter wrought much in red iron ore. He had a smithy set up
some way out from Borg, close by the sea, at a place now called Raufar-ness. The woods he thought
were not too far from thence. But since he could find no stone there so hard or smooth as he thought
good for hammering iron on (for there are no beach pebbles, the seashore being all fine sand), one
evening, when other were gone to sleep, Skallagrim went to the sea, and pushed out an eight-oared
boat he had, and rowed out to the Midfirth islands. There he dropped an anchor from the bows of the
boat, then stepped overboard, and dived down to the bottom, and brought up a large stone, and lifted it
into the boat. Then he himself climbed into the boat and rowed to land, and carried the stone to the
smithy and laid it down before the smithy door, and thenceforth he hammered iron on it. That stone
lies there yet, and much slag beside it; and the marks of the hammering may be seen on its upper face,
and it is a surf-worn boulder, unlike the other stones that are there. Four men nowadays could not lift a
larger mass. Skallagrim worked hard at smithying, but his house-carles grumbled thereat, and thought
it over early rising. Then Skallagrim composed this stave:

’Who wins wealth by iron

Right early must rise:

Of the sea’s breezy brother

Wind-holders need blast.

On furnace-gold glowing

My stout hammer rings,

While heat-feeding bellows

A whistling storm stir.’

Chapter 31 - Of Skallagrim’s children.
Skallagrim and Bera had a great many children, but at first they all died. Then they had a son, who
was sprinkled with water and named Thorolf. As a child he soon grew to be tall and was fair of
countenance. It was the talk of all that he would be just such another as Thorolf Kveldulf’s son, after
whom he was named. Thorolf was far beyond children of his own age in strength. And as he grew to
manhood he became doughty in most accomplishments then in vogue among those who were well
trained. Thorolf was of a right cheery mood. Early did he come to such full strength as to be deemed
fit for warlike service with other men. He was soon a favourite with all, and his father and mother
loved him well. Skallagrim and his wife had two daughters; one was named Sæunn, the other
Thorunn. They also were of great promise as they grew up. Then Skallagrim and his wife had yet
another son. He was sprinkled with water and named, and his name was Egil. But as he grew up it was
soon seen that he would be ill-favoured, like his father, with black hair. When but three years old he
was as tall and strong as other boys of six or seven. He was soon talkative and word-wise. Somewhat
ill to manage was he when at play with other lads.

That spring, Yngvar went to Borg, his errand being to bid Skallagrim to a feast at his house, he also
named for the party his daughter Bera and Thorolf her son, and any others that Skallagrim liked to
bring. Skallagrim promised to come. Yngvar then went home, prepared for the banquet, and had ale
brewed. But when the set time came that Skallagrim and Bera should go to the feast, Thorolf made
him ready to go with them, as also some house-carles, so that they were fifteen in all. Egil told his
father that he wished to go.